My 2 Cents on the Proposed Pretoria Street Name Changes

The Tswane Metro Council announced last week that they intend to change 25 street names in Pretoria in the coming months. I’ve been a resident of Pretoria for the past 16 years and I think this is totally ridiculous. I know the political reasons behind the proposed changes by the ANC controlled council are valid, but it’s ludicrous at this time. It’s not like Tswane Metro is an example of the richest Metro council in South Africa.

To my knowledge, The Tswane Metro Council has been struggling to break even over the last few years. Basic services are being delivered in most of the the Metropolitan region, but service delivery has never been this council’s strong point. This ANC controlled council has not addressed all the issues in the Metropolitan area if you ask me. Now it seems that they’re trying to shift the focus of the citizens of Pretoria from that by wasting millions on unneeded street name changes. Luckily they’re dropping the “changing the Tswane name to Pretoria” quest for now.

This a list of Pretoria Street names that are said that need to change:

Zambesi to Sefako Makgatho

Hendrik Verwoerd to johan Heyns

Beatrix/Mears/Voortrekker to Steve Biko

Hans Strijdom to Solomon Mahlangu

Walker/Charles to Justice Mohammed

Proes to Johannes Ramokhoase

Duncan to Jan Shoba

Generaal Louis Botha to January Masilela

Esselen to Robert Sebukwe

Vermeulen to Madiba

Schubart to Sophie de Bruyn

Potgieter to Kgosi Mapuru

Prinsloo to Sisulu

Skinner to Nana Sita

Jacob Mare to Jeff Masilela

Queen Wilhelmina to Florence Ribiero

Van Der Walt to Lillian Ngoyi

Andries to Thabo Sehume

D F Malan to Eskia Mphahlele

Mitchell to Charlotte Maxewke

Schoeman to Francis Baard

Church Street to Stanza Mobapa/Helen Joseph/WF Nkomo/Elias Motswaledi

Michael Brink to Nico Smith

Leah Mangope to Peter Mangope

Lucas Mangope to Molefe Makinte

I just have one question, how is “Church” a political name that needs to change? And even though Tswane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa is saying that this is “Not Targeted at Afrikaners”, I call bullshit. This is another attempt by the ANC to erase history. They need to understand that there’s two sides to history and history can not be erased. Pretoria has a rich history and doing this will sweep a huge portion of it under a rug. This is just another way that the council wants to waste money instead of actually focusing on what citizens of Tswane Metro need, proper service delivery and less cock-ups with electricity and water bills.

What are your thoughts about this? Drop a comment on this post and let the readers of Running Wolf’s Rant know. Feedback is appreciated and welcome here. Watch this space for regular updates in the Opinion category on this blog.

10 COMMENTS

Look, I just can’t believe they are doing away with the funniest street name in South Africa. Proes Street… As an aside… Proes was actually the first state attorney of the old republic and isn’t even South Africa. He’s from Holland…. Nothing is more idiotic to me than the concept of racism – I say dislike people because they are stupid idiots, not because of a skin colour. That’s my motto anyway… but now we are breeding a country of uneducated and ignorant people. HOW is that any better? Just because history is awful, doesn’t mean we pretend it didn’t happen. We embrace it, learn from it and move on. Get over it. Use money for things that the country and it’s citizens actually need…. It’s like paying for a woman’s boobjob when what she really needs is a cure for her cancer.

So so so true, and your illustration is so on point, they trying to give the city a boob job instead of dealing with her Cancer! Just because the cancer is a long term investment, it doesn’t mean you should leave it for the next guy, man up and deal with it!! There is way better to use for the money in Pretoria than changing names!! One day the generations will look back at the leaders of today and will say what a bunch of idiots or wow they really made a difference for us!

The way I see it the people in those meeting making the decisions should look at the generations to come and not just think of themselves, coz I see that happening a lot! People are so concerned about themselves looking to the past, instead of looking to the future for there Children and the children’s children!!
Stop being so selfish and think about your Children and rather spend money on the educational system as that will give everyone a fair chance to make a life for themselves, that way it will make way for a better future!

Wake up!! our government you should know we are not blind, we see through everything you do racial or non racial, stupid or wise!! People will see through every motive you might have, so make sure your motives are pure and in the best interest of the people!

Senator Michael Brink ( J.M.v H Brink), leader of the UNITED Party 1943-1948, His wife Elle Brink.
The Brink family resided at 40 Malan Street, Riviera. This property is now the “Amper Bo Guesthouse”.
(Elle Street in Riviera, was named after my great grandmother)